Snow-melter



UNITED STATES PATENT ()l 'FlCE.

HUGH LYLE PEDEN, OF NEW? YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM F. KEARNEY, SPRING VALLEY,. NEW YORK.

SNOW-MEE'IER.

Application filed December 11, 1919.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern it known that I, HUGH L. PnonX, a citizen of tl e United States, residingat New York, in the county of Sew York and State of New Yor have inrented certain new and useful Improvements in Snow-Melton; and I do d clare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de eription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in snow melting devices intended principally for use in clearing snow from streets and highways, and although I intend that the device shall be )ortable by means of a tlllCrl or the like, it might in some instances be a stationary machine to which the snow is hauled.

The principal object the invention is to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive yet a highly eliicient, durable and reliable snow melting device which will melt snow and ice as rapidly as discharged into "he same, novel provision being made tor "zipping and heating a quantity of water in re casing of the device, to act on any lumps of snow and ice which might possibly drop unmelted between the heated pipes upon which the snow and ice are dumped With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of: parts hereinafter described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a to) plan view of a snow melter constructed in accordance with my invention, parts being broken away and in section.

Fin. 2 is a lon -itudinal section cut apndicated by line s an end view with parts in trans- 1 section as indicated by line 3-3 of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug.

Serial No. 344,014.

vent the escape o1 heat. The side 7 of the smoke box however which side extends across the casing 1, is free of insulation in order that heat may radiate therefrom to assist in melting the snow and ice deposited in said casing. The bottom of the smoke box 5 may also be insulated, as indicated at 8.

A plurality of parallel horizontal pipes 9 are disposed longit-uuinally in the casing 1 and communicate at one end with the smoke box 5, while their other ends are disposed opposite a plurality of burners 10. These burners are adapted to force flame and hot air through the pipes 9 to heat the same for melting the snow or the like. the water falling to the bottom of the casing and discharging through a suitable outlet 11, while the prooucts 0t combustion enter the smoke box 5 and escape therefrom through one or more lines 12, *ach of which may nave a damper 13.

As shown, the pipes 9 are of triangular form in transverse section so that their upper edges will serve to cut any large cakes of snow and ice, but said pipes might ii desired be of other form. Regardless of their exact shape in transverse section, the pigcs 9 are prererably insulated along their lower sides as seen at 14- to revent the downward escape of heat and thus increase the upward radiation of such heat. The pipes in question could well be mounted in any preferred manner, but are shown extending through openings in the side 7 of the smoke box at one end, while their other ends project through similar openings in the casing 1.

The burners it) can of any adequate "form but I preferably use kerosene oil as fuel, and such fuel may be forced to the burners through suitable 1 iping and connections 1' R from one or more tanks Air pum are shown compressing air in the ta 1G to pneumatically force the fuel cm o the burners and blow jets of flame a considerable distance from the latter into the pi I have shown a casing 18 for the burners 10, s. '.l casing being mounted on the crior of the casing l and lwing lrovided with appropriate air inlet openings 19. The casing 18 may well be provided with a removable upper hall 20 for giving access to the burners for clcaning or repairing.

As above suggested, I intend to trap a quantity of water in the casing 1 and heat this water in order to melt any lumps of snow and ice which may fall unmelted between the pipes 9. To trap the water, the outlet 11 is spaced an appropriate distance from the bottom 2, and in order to heat such trapped water, I have provided a plurality of pipes 21 having central reaches 7 totally or partially below the water level, while the ends of said pipes turn upwardly as seen at 22, and communicate respectively with the pipes 9 and the smoke box 5. I have shown only four of the pipes 21 and six pipes 9, but any number could well be used. 7

In operation, the burners 10 direct their flame into the pipes 9 and thus effectii'ely heat such pipes, and some of the heat shunts through the pipes 21. It will thus be seen that when snow and ice is dumped onto the pipes 9, it will be melted and although the larger quantity of water is discharged through the outlet opening 11, some of such water is trapped in the casing 1 and heated by the aforesaid pipes 21. This not only prevents the possible formation of ice in the casing, but the trapped hot water will quickly melt any snow andrice which may fall between the pipes 9.

Since in using the device for melting snow and the like taken from highways and streets, a great deal of street dirt will necessarily be dumped into it, I make adequate provision for removing such dirt, consistin of an appropriate door 24:.

bince probably the best results may be obtained from the several details shown and described, they may well be followed, but I wish it understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous changes may be made.

1 claim:

1. A snow melter comprising arectangular tank open at its top to receive the snow,

a smoke box at one end of said tank, an outlet from said smoke box, a plurality of parallel horizontal pipes communicating at one end with said smoke box and extending therefrom to the opposite end of the casing, a burner casing on the outer side of the last named casing end, and burners in said burner casing alined with said'pipes for directing flame into the latter.

2. A snow melter comprising a tank open at its top toreceive the snow, said tank having a water outlet spaced above its bottom to trap a quantity of water in said casing, a smoke box at one end of said casing, an outlet from said smoke box, a plurality of parallel pipes communicating with said smoke box and extending therefrom to the opposite end of the casing, burners for directing heat through said pipes into said smoke box, and an additional pipe having a reach disposed'at least partially below the water levelin the casing, one end of said additional pipe being in communication with one of the other pipes, while the other end of said additional pipe communicates with said smoke box, whereby a portion of the heat will shunt through said additional pipe to heat the trapped water.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HUGH LYLE PEDEN. 

